He became the 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in October 2011 and is the highest ranking military officer in all of the United States Armed Forces. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and has Master’s degrees from Duke University, United States Army Command and General Staff College, and National War College. Dempsey has served in the Persian Gulf War and Iraq War. He has been awarded two Defense Distinguished Service Medals, four Army Distinguished Service Medals, three Defense Superior Service Medal Legions of Merit, and two Bronze Stars with Valor.
